Slat mounting for cotton pickers



June 1956 P. A. KEITH ET AL 2,751,742

SLAT MOUNTING FOR COTTON PICKERS Filed Dec. 5. 1953 5% EL W flax/ 1 2 .Q. gmgmpm Ag. Mon/ United States Fatent SLAT MOUNTING FOR COTTON PICKERS Percy A. Keith and Rector C. Fergason, Gadsden, Ala., assignors to Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company, West Allis, Wis.

Application December 3, 1953, Serial No. 395,886

9 Claims. (Cl. 56-42) The invention relates to cotton harvesters, and it is concerned more particularly with a picking unit of the rotary spindle type wherein an endless series of vertical slats are moved horizontally in an oblong path about a suitably constructed support, and wherein a number of vertically spaced picking spindles are rotatably mounted on each slat so as to extend horizontally outward from a relatively narrow vertical side of the slat.

Cotton picking machines of the above outlined character are well known in the art, and it is customary to connect the slats at their upper and lower ends to horizontally movable top and bottom chains, respectively, which are trained about a pair of vertically spaced drive sprockets at one end of the oblong path of slat movement, and about a pair of vertically spaced idlers at the other end of such path. In operation, the slats are required to assume diflfereut angular positions relative to the general direction of movement of the chains, because the spindles must extend straight outward, that is, at right angles to the chains, when they are moved horizontally at the picking side of the oblong path, and the slots must be pivoted relative to the chains so that the spindles will be slanted rearwardly for passage through a suitable stripping mechanism at the other side of the oblong path.

In order to provide for the required change of horizontal angularity of the slats relative to the chains it is customary to pivot the slats at their upper and lower ends on vertical extensions of the chain pivots, and for that purpose various types of hinge constructions have heretofore been suggested. One of the principal requirements of such a hinge is that it be readily connectable with and disconnectable from the slat without necessity of dismantling the picking unit, as by opening up the slat carrying chains. Also, the hinges must be adequately strong so that they will not yield, particularly in a vertical direction, because the slats must be accurately positioned and vertically aligned to insure proper passage of the spindles through the stripping mechanism without objectionable interference with stationary parts of the latter.

Generally, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved slat and hinge assembly for cotton pickers, and one which will take care of the above outlined requirements in a practical and fully satisfactory manner.

More specifically it is an object of the invention to provide an improved slat and hinge assembly of the above outlined character wherein accurate positioning of the slat and hinge relative to each other will be positively insured without special attention during the assembling operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved hinge for the purposes outlined herein including a hinge bracket which is not only readily attachable to and detachable from the slat but which may also be attached to and detached from the chain with equal facility.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved hinge bracket of the above outlined character which may readily be formed of relatively thick plate itself to massproduction at relatively low cost.

a CC

The foregoing and other objects and advantages are attained by the present invention, various novel features of which will become apparent from the description herein of a preferred embodiment of the invention, and will be set forth in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational View, with parts broken away and shown in section, of part of a picking unit incorporating vertical spindle slats and upper and lower slat carrying chains;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the assembly shown in Fig. 1, part of the upper slat carrying chain being broken away for purpose of disclosure;

Figure 3 is a side view of one of the slats and associated parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on line IV-IV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a top view with parts broken away of slats and associated hinge brackets shown in Fig. 2 but positioned in a difierent relation to each other than that shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a section on line VI-VI of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the lower end of the slat shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the improved hinge structure of the present invention is shown at the upper end of each of three vertically disposed spindle carrying slats generally designated by the reference characters 1, 2 and 3, respectively, and also at the lower end of each of these slats. As shown at the upper end of the slat 1 in Fig. 1 and also in the sectional view of Fig. 6, a sheet metal structure which forms the body of the slat comprises horizontally opposite relatively wide vertical side walls 4 and 6. The side wall 4, as shown in Fig. 3, is irregularly shaped to provide a vertical series of deep recesses 7, and the side wall 6 is correspondingly shaped to provide similar recesses in horizontal alignment with the recesses of the side wall 4. The side walls 4 and 6 are integrally connected with each other by an outwardly arched cross wall 8 which extends longitudinally of the slat and forms a relatively narrow outer side of the latter. At the side of the slat which is disposed horizontally opposite to the transverse wall 8 the side walls 4 and 6 are rigidly connected with each other by angular flanges 9 and 11 which are integrally formed, respectively, with the side walls 4 and 6 and which are rigidly secured together, as by spot welding. A spacing and bearing mounting strip 12 is placed edgewise between the side walls 4 and 6 and is secured in position by suitable connections (not shown) along its edges with the side walls 4 and 6. As further shown at the upper end of the slat 1 in Fig. 1, a top wall 13 extends horizontally between the side walls 4 and 6 and is integrally formed with the side wall 6. The side wall 4 is extended upwardly beyond the top wall 13, and a rectangular wing portion 14 which is formed integrally with and bent upward from the top wall 13 extends parallel to the upward extension of the side wall 4 in face to face engagement with the latter. The upwardly extended end portion of the side wall 4 has a triangular brace connection 16 with the upper end of the cross wall 8 and is rigidly connected with the rectangular wing portion 14 as by spot welding. The upwardly extended end portion of the side wall 4 and the wing portion 1 form a vertical flange at the upper end of the slat 1 for securing an upper hinge bracket thereto as will be explained more fully herein below.

The detail construction at the upper end of the slat l is duplicated at the lower end of the slat. That is, a lower extension of the side wall 4 and a rectangular wing portion 17 corresponding to the upper wing portion 14 are secured together and form a vertical flange at the lower end of the slat 1 for securing a lower hinge bracket thereto.

A vertical series of picking spindles 18 are rotatably mounted on the slat 1 so as to extend horizontally from the vertical outer side of the latter which is presented by the arched cross wall 3. Referring to Fig. 3, a pair of horizontally aligned bearing bushings 13 and 21 for the picking spindle 18 at the upper end of the slat 1 are suitably mounted between the side walls tand 6, the bushing 19 having an end collar 22 projecting through a circular aperture in the cross wall 8, and the bushing 21, as best shown in Fig. 6 being retained between the angular flanges 9 and 11. A drive roller 23 is fixedly secured to the spindle 18 between the bearing bushings 13 and 21 for cooperative engagement with a stationary drive track (not shown) in conformity with conventional practice.

The foregoing explanations with reference to the pickmg spindle 13 at the upper end of the slat 1 similarly apply to all of the picking spindles on said slat, and the foregoing explanations with respect to the construction of slat 1 and spindles thereon similarly apply to all of the other slats. That is, each slat has a series of vertically spaced bearing elements 19, and a corresponding series of vertically spaced bearing elements 21, between horizontally opposite inner and outer sides thereof for mounting rotary picking spindles 18 in horizontally projecting relation to said outer side, the inner side of the slat being the one which is presented by the angular flanges 9 and 11, and the outer side of the slat being the one presented by the wall 8.

It will be understood that the slats 1, 2 and 3 are part of an endless series of slats which are moved in an oblong path about a suitably constructed support (not shown). The mechanism for moving the slat is of conventional construction and includes an endless upper slat carrier in the form of a chain, part of which is shown at the top of Fig. 1 and generally indicated by reference character 24, and an endless lower slat carrier in the form of a chain, part of which is shown at the lower end of Fig. l, and generally designated by the reference character 26. The upper and lower chains are trained about vertically spaced sprocket wheels (not shown) at one end of an oblong path of slat movement and about a pair of vertically spaced guide wheels or idlers (not shown) at the other end of such oblong path. The spindle carrying slats extend vertically between the upper and lower chains 24 and 26 and each slat has an upper pivot connection with the upper chain 24, and a coaxial lower pivot connection with a lower chain 26.

As best'shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the upper chain 24 is of conventional construction in that it ismade up of a series of links each comprising a pair of bushings 2'7 and 28 and a pair of side plates 29 and 31 which rigidly secure the bushings of each link in parallel spaced relation to each other. Rotatably mounted in each bushing 28 is a pivot pin 32, and each link comprising one pair of bushings 27, 28 and one pair of side plates 29, 31 is flexibly connected with the next link by upper and lower side plates 33, 34 which are attached at their longitudinally opposite ends to adjacent pairs of chain pivots 32. The pivots 32 are rigidly secured at their upper ends, as by riveting, to the upper side plates 33. The axial length of each chain pivot 32 is appreciably greater than the vertical distance between the outer sides of the side plates 33 and 34, so that all of the pivots 32 will project a substantial distance downwardly beyond the lower side plates 34, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The reference character 36 in Figs. 1 and 2 generally designates a hinge member which is detachably secured in a manner more fully explained hereinbelow to the upwardly extending flange at the upper end of the slat 1 and which serves to pivotally connect the slat 1 at its upper end to the upper chain 24. The hinge bracket 36 is made of relatively heavy gauge plate metal and comprises a somewhat irregularly shaped horizontal plate portion 37 and a downwardly extending or angular flange 4 portion 38. The slats 2 and 3 are each connected to the upper chain 24 by a hinge bracket which is a duplicate of the hinge bracket 36 at the upper end of the slat 1, and the general outline of the horizontal portion of each of the hinge brackets 36 is best shown in Fig. 2. As shown at the left of Fig. 2, the horizontal portion 37 of the hinge bracket 36 which is secured to the slat 3 extends laterally in a generally oblique direction towards and over the slat 2. The lower end portion of chain pivot 32 which is located between the slats 2 and 3 extends downwardly through a circular hole or pivot pin receiving aperture 40 in the portion 37 of the hinge bracket which is secured to the slat member 3. The hole 49 is accurately finished, as by reaming, for a close running fit on the chain pivot 32, and the bracket 36 is retained on the chain pivot 32 by means of a washer 41 and a cotter pin 42 which is inserted through a hole in the chain pivot 32 below the washer 41.

A detachable connection between the slat member 3 and its associated upper hinge member or bracket 36 comprises a stud element 43 which isfixedly secured to the depending flange 38 with its axis extending in the direction of movement of the slat carrier, as by riveting, and releasable locking means comprising a cap screw 44, the threaded shank portion of which extends through a hole in the upwardly extending flange of the slat and is threaded into a tapped hole of the flange portion 38.

The foregoing description of the connection between the upper end of the slat 3 and chain 24 equally applies to the connections between the upper ends of the slats 1 and 2 with the upper chain 24, and it also applies to the connections between the lower ends of the slats 1, 2 and 3 and lower chain 25. It should be noted, however, that the hinge brackets which connect the lower ends of the slats 1, 2 and 3 with the lower chain 26 are opposite hand duplicates of the hinge brackets 36 and, accordingly, the lower hinge brackets are each designated by the reference character 36.

Referring to Fig. 4, the stud 43 in the upwardly extending flange portion 38 of the hinge bracket 36 at the lower end of slat 1 has a stem portion 52 of a reduced diameter within a hole of the flange portion 38 and a shank portion 53 of an enlarged diameter at the side of the flange portion 38' which bears against the wing portion 17 at the lower end of the slat 1. As shown in Fig. 7, an open ended horizontally extending recess in the form of a slot 46 is formed in the vertical edge portion of the mounting flange at the lower end of the slat 1, and as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 7 the slot 46 straddles the enlarged shank portion of the cooperating stud 43 so as to establish an accurately determined vertical position of the slat 1 and binge bracket 36' relative to each other. The stud 43 has a radially enlarged circular head portion 54 in laterally overlying relation to the downwardly extending end portion of the side wall 4 of slat 1; The combined thickness of the downwardly projecting side wall portion 4 and the downwardly projecting wing portion 17 at the lower end of slat 1 substantially matches the spacing of the adjacent stud head from the bracket flange 38", so that in the assembled condition of the parts as shown in Fig. 4 the slat 1 and its associated lower hinge bracket 36' will be retained by the coacting stud 43 not only in vertically fixed relation to each other but also against lateral displacement transversely of the flange 3.8;

The screw member on cap screw 44 in Fig. 4 extends through registering holes 45 (Fig. 7) in'the downward extensionof the slat side wall 4 and in the downwardly extending wingportion 17 at the lower. end of the slat 1, and the cap screw 44 is threaded. into a tappedhole of the flange. portion 38 and drawn up tight so as to bring its, head portion into load transmitting engagement with the flange formed, by the lower extension of the side wall 4 and. the wingportion- 37, whereby the lower hinge bracket 36' will be positively secured against displacement in any direction relative to the slat by the combined action of the stud 43 and cap screw 44.

The foregoing explanations as to the connection of the lower hinge bracket 36 to the lower end of the slat 1 similarly apply to the connections of the lower hinge brackets 36' to the lower ends of the slats 2 and 3, and they also apply analogously .to the connections of the upper hinge brackets 36 to the upper ends of the slats 1, 2 and 3.

The arrow 47 in Fig. 2 indicates the direction in which the chains and slats normally move upon application of driving power to the upper and lower chains 24 and 26. It will be noted that the picking spindles 18 in the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 2 extend at right angles to the direction of chain travel which is indicated by the arrow 47. The horizontal portions 37 of the hinge brackets 36 are shown in Fig. 2 in relative positions in which they cooperate with each other to determine the right angle relation between the picking spindles 18 and the direction of chain travel. As shown in Fig. 5, each horizontal bracket portion 37 has a concave edge portion 48 at one part of its circumference and a convex edge portion 49 at another part of its circumference. In the condition of the parts as shown in Fig. 2 the concave edge 48 of one hinge bracket bears against the convex edge 49 of the adjacent hinge bracket to limit pivotal movement of the slats relative to each other in clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2.

The dash dotted are 51 in Fig. 5 represents part of the pitch circle on which the chain pivots 32 travel about the above mentioned front idlers, not shown. It will be noted that in the condition of the parts as shown in Fig. 5 the downwardly extending flanges 38 of the hinge brackets 36 are no longer disposed parallel to each other as in Fig. 2, but are angularly displaced so that the gap between adjacent hinge brackets will be greater at the radially outer ends of the flanges 38 than at the radially inner ends of said flanges. It will also be noted that the studs 43 are located at the radially inner ends of the flanges 38, and in proximity to the vertically extending inner sides of the slats. The cap screws 44, on the other hand, are located at the radially outer ends of the flange 38 and in proximity to the vertically extending outer sides of the slats. This particular location of the studs 43 and cap screws 44 adjacent to inner and outer sides respectively of the slats is desirable and advantageous because it contributes to ready removal of any slat from its associated upper and lower hinge brackets, as will be apparent from the foregoing explanations and particularly from Fig. 5.

In Fig. 5 the slat 2 is shown in a position of radially outward displacement relative to its associated upper hinge bracket 36, and in order to release the slat for such radially outward displacement it is only necessary to remove the cap screws 44 at the upper and lower ends of the slat 2. Conversely, in order to attach any one of the slats t the upper and lower hinge brackets 36, 36, the slat may first be placed into the position in which the slat 2 is shown in Fig. and from that position the slat may then be moved radially inward, that is, transversely of the direction of slat travel which is indicated by the dash dotted arc 51, in order to bring the slat to its final position in which the notches 46 at the upper and lower ends of the slat straddle the studs 43 on the upper and lower hinge brackets and in which the holes 45 in the upper and lower ends of the slat register with the threaded holes in the bracket flanges 38 and 38. The relatively wide spacing which exists between the radially outer ends of relatively adjacent bracket flanges 38 in the condition of the mechanism as shown in Fig. 5 affords ready access to the heads of the cap screws 44 so that the cap screws can readily be turned by means of a wrench in order to secure any slat in its fixed position on the associated upper and lower hinge brackets. Likewise, the angled relation between the hinge brackets as shown in Fig. 5 affords sufi'icient room for convenient removal of the upper and lower cap screws 44 when it is desired to remove any one of the slats for purposes of replacement or repair. It will also be noted that any one of the hinge brackets may readily be removed from its associated carrying chain by removal of the corresponding cotter pins 42.

The hinge brackets 36, 36 are formed of relatively heavy gauge plate metal, as stated, which renders them sufliciently strong to withstand all normal loads and considerable overloads, particularly in a vertical direction without appreciable or objectional deflection. The stud and slot connections 43, 46, and the screw connections 44, 45 are likewise sufliciently sturdy and accurate to insure precise positioning of the slats and spindles in the assembled machine. Such accurate positioning of the slats and spindles is important for proper passage of the spindles through the stripping and moistening mechanisms, not shown, which are usually employed in rotary spindle type cotton pickers and which incorporate stationary bars or the like by which the spindles may be damaged under conditions of misalignment as is well known in the art.

The hinge brackets 36, 36', in addition to determining the right angle positions of the slats and spindles relative to the direction of chain travel as shown in Fig. 2, also serve to limit rearward inclination of the slats and spindles relative to the chains, that is, toward the left in Fig. 2, as will be readily apparent from an inspection of the illustrated configuration of the horizontal portions 37.

It should be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular form and details herein shown and described, and that the invention includes such other forms and modifications as are embraced by the scope of the appended claims.

It is claimed and desired to secured by Letters Patent:

1. In a cotton picker, the combination of a vertically extending slat member for mounting rotary picking spindles, a hinge member pivotally connectable on a vertical axis with a horizontally movable endless slat carrier, a stud element rigidly connected with one of said members on an axis extending in the general direction of movement of said slat carrier, the other of said members having a horizontally extending open ended recess for cooperative engagement with said stud element upon movement of one of said members toward the other in a direction generally transverse to said direction of movement of said slat carrier, and releasable locking means operatively interconnecting said slat and hinge members.

2. In a cotton picker, the combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said stud element is a part of said hinge member, and wherein said slat member has a slot forming said open ended recess.

3. In a cotton picker, the combination set forth in claim 2, wherein said hinge member comprises a horizontal plate portion having a vertical pivot pin receiving aperture and an angular flange portion mounting said stud element, and wherein said slat member has a flange extending longitudinally of said slat at one end of the latter, a vertical edge portion of said slat flange being slotted so as to present said horizontally extending open ended recess.

4. In a cotton picker, the combination set forth in claim 3, wherein said stud element has a radially enlarged head portion for lateral load transmitting engagement with said slat flange.

5. In a cotton picker, the combination set forth in claim 4, wherein said plate portion of said hinge member and said slat flange have registering holes, respectively, and wherein said releasable locking means comprise a screw member extending through one of said holes and having threaded engagement with the other.

6. In a cotton picker, the combination set forth in claim 4, wherein a cap screw forming said locking means has a head portion in load transmitting engagement with said slat flange, and a shank portion in threaded engagement with said angular flange portion of said hinge member.

7. In a cotton picker, the combination of a vertically disposed slat member having horizontally opposite inner and outer sides and mounting rotary picking spindles in horizontally projecting relation to said outer side, a hinge member pivotally connectable on a vertical axis with a horizontally movable endless slat carrier, a stud element rigidly connected with one of said members so as to extend in the general direction of movement of said slat carrier, the other of said members having an aperture receiving said stud element, and releasable locking means operatively interconnecting said slat and hinge members.

8. In a cotton picker, the combination of elements set forth in claim 7, wherein said hinge member comprises a horizontal plate portion having a vertical pivot pin receiving aperture and an angular flange portion extending in the axial direction of said picking spindles, and wherein said stud element and releasable locking means are operatively associated, in horizontally spaced relation to each other, with said angular flange portion of said hinge member.

9. In a cotton picker, the combination of a vertically disposed slat member having horizontally opposite inner and outer sides and mounting rotary picking spindles in horizontally ploiecting relation to said outer side, a hinge member pivotally connectable on a vertical axis with, a horiaontally movable endless slat carrier, a stud element fixedly connectedfwith one of; said members in proximity to said inner. side so as to extend in the general direction of movement of said, slat carrier, the other of said members having an open ended aperture in proximity to said inner side of: said slat member and slidably interfitting with said stud element, and releasable locking means operatively interconnecting said slat and binge members at portions thereof in proximity to said outer side of said slat memb r.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,058,513 Rust et al. Oct. 27, 1936 2,076,598 Rust et al. Apr. 13, 1937 2,440,450 Rust Apr. 27, 1948 2,533,631 Rust Dec. 12, 1950 

